Box Score: vs Northern Arizona

Around the locker room, Hornet running back Kendall Riley is known as “Big Juicy.” But after Saturday’s win over No. 7 ranked Northern Arizona, Riley was simply known as “The Man.”

The 245-pound fullback plunged his way into the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run to give Sacramento State a 24-21 lead with seven minutes, seven seconds remaining in the game. Ryan Kroeker’s interception with two minutes remaining sealed the Hornet victory, snapping the team’s nine-game road losing streak, and putting the final exclamation mark on a Sac State comeback.

“It was offense and defense playing together,” Hornet coach John Volek said. “No matter what happened we never lost faith in each other.”

The Lumberjacks jumped out to an early 14-0 lead behind the play of 6-foot-5 receiver Clarence Moore, who caught for 131 yards in the first half alone.

Northern Arizona had the ball on the Sac State 3-yard line late in the first quarter with a chance to take a 21-point lead when the Hornet defense struck for the first of many times on the night. Linebacker Noel Taueetia hit Lumberjack quarterback Clint Womack to force a fumble, which was recovered by nose tackle Bilal Watkins.

Two possessions later, Derard Barton scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7.

The Hornets tied the game midway through the third quarter when quarterback Ryan Leadingham hooked up with a wide-open Kenan Smith on a 33-yard touchdown strike.

The Hornets went into the game without three of their top players: wide receiver Fred Amey, right tackle Chris Frank, and running back Tyronne Gross. Starting running back Garrett White also saw limited action with sore ribs, and a hurt groin.

“There was no star power,” Volek said. “All of the 52 guys that played contributed to the win.”

With a 14-14 game in the third quarter, Moore picked up his second touchdown on a 55-yard pass from Womack, giving the Lumberjacks a 21-14 lead heading into the final quarter.

This was when Taueetia came up big again. The linebacker picked up a Philo Sanchez fumble, which was forced by Ben Fox, and returned it to the Northern Arizona 20-yard line.

“All I did was pick up the ball and ran with it,” Taueetia said. “I gave it to the quarterback, just dipped on him (ran him over). I was trying to take it to the house.”

Over the next three downs, the Hornet offense was pushed back 13 yards, setting up a 50-yard field goal for Brett LeVier. The Hornet kicker had missed his only two field goal attempts in the Causeway Classic last week, and the 50-yarder would be a career long.

But the sophomore split the uprights, making the score 21-17 with 12:42 remaining.

“The kid hs proven he has the big leg,” Volek said. “He just has to believe in himself.”

Five minutes later, Riley gave the Hornets the lead on his first touchdown since the final game of last season.

As for the nickname, Big Juicy takes it all in stride. “That’s coach Angus McClure, he gave me that name,” said Riley, who weighed 275 pounds coming out of high school. “The first time he saw me he said ‘Man. That kid is juicy!'”

The juice got loose Saturday night, guiding the Hornets to their first Big Sky victory of the season.

Northern Arizona was the highest ranked team that the Hornets have ever beaten since moving to Div. I-AA.

The Sac State defense, led by Kroeker, Taueetia, and Watkins, led the way to victory, forcing four turnovers, while holding the Lumberjacks to 70 yards rushing.

Kroeker finished with a team-high 11 tackles and one interception. Safety Ramon Payne finished with seven tackles and an interception.

Riley, Barton and Garrett White rushed for 37, 39 and 40 yards, respectively, and Leadingham threw for 198 yards and one touchdown.

“Our emotion are very high,” Riley said. “We are very excited about Portland State because we know we can get after them.”